Francois De La Rochefoucauld Quotes

Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor.

Customary use of artifice is the sign of a small mind, and it almost always happens that he who uses it to cover one spot uncovers himself in another.

It is praiseworthy even to attempt a great action.

Some good qualities are like the senses: Those who are entirely deprived of them can have no notion of them.

The surest proof of being endowed with noble qualities is to be free from envy.

A man often thinks he rules himself, when all the while he is ruled and managed; and while his understanding directs one design, his affections imperceptibly draw him into another.

Most men, like plants, possess hidden qualities which chance discovers.

Narrow minds think nothing right that is above their own capacity.

We often boast that we are never bored; but yet we are so conceited that we do not perceive how often we bore others.

None but the contemptible are apprehensive of contempt.

Nothing prevents one from appearing natural as the desire to appear natural.

Our good qualities expose us more to hatred and persecution than all the ill we do.

The man whom no one pleases is much more unhappy than the man who pleases no one.

Most women lament not the death of their lovers so much out of real affection for them, as because they would appear worthy of love.

No matter how much care we put into hiding our passions under the appearances of devotion and honor, they can always be seen to peer out through these covers.

There are a great many men valued in society who have nothing to recommend them but serviceable vices.

We can be more clever than one, but not more clever than all.

Whatever distrust we may have of the sincerity of those who converse with us, we always believe they will tell us more truth than they do to others.

Those only are despicable who fear to be despised.

Philosophy easily triumphs over past and future ills; but present ills triumph over philosophy.

The intellect of the generality of women serves more to fortify their folly than their reason.

Raillery is more insupportable than wrong; because we have a right to resent injuries, but are ridiculous in being angry at a jest.

In order to succeed in the world people do their upmost to appear successful.

Truth does less good in the world than its appearances do harm.

We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.

The constancy of the wise is only the art of keeping disquietude to one's self.

The gallantry of the mind consists in agreeable flattery.

Almost everyone takes pleasure in repaying trifling obligations, very many feel gratitude for those that are moderate; but there is scarcely anyone who is not ungrateful for those that are weighty.

All our qualities, whether good or bad, are unstable and ambiguous, and almost all are at the mery of chance.

To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.

Everyone takes pleasure in returning small obligations, many people acknowledge moderate ones; but there are only a scarce few who do not pay great ones with ingratitude.

Ideas often flash across our minds more complete than we could make them after much labor.

There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the world.

The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth

It is with certain good qualities as with the senses; those who have them not can neither appreciate nor comprehend them in others.

Often we are firm from weakness, and audacious from timidity.

A man, in order to establish himself in the world, does everything he can to appear established there.

The greatest part of our faults are more excusable than the methods that are commonly taken to conceal them.

Eloquence resides as much in the tone of voice, in the eyes, and in the expression of the face, as in the choice of words.

A weak mind is the only defect out of our power to mend.

There are people who would never have been in love, had they never heard love spoken of.

A person well satisfied with themselves is seldom satisfied with others, and others, rarely are with them.

We acknowledge our faults in order to repair by our sincerity the damage they have done us in the eyes of others.

Truth does not do as much good in the world as its imitations do harm.

The greatest fault of a penetrating wit is to go beyond the mark.

There is scarcely any man sufficiently clever to appreciate all the evil he does.

No men are oftener wrong than those that can least bear to be so.

Silence is the safest policy if you are unsure of yourself.

Moderation is like sobriety: you would like to have some more, but are afraid of making yourself ill.

Gratitude is like the good faith of traders: it maintains commerce, and we often pay, not because it is just to discharge our debts, but that we may more readily find people to trust us.